just read he is a FA and another name to consider can play SS,2B, or 3B in limited time thanks to being a call up and injuries he hit 326, 20 doubles, and had 15 SB. He could be a cheap option for next year on a 1 or 2 year deal who at worst could be carrolls replacement for next year in terms of a util guy

yeah, he'll likely want at least what Carroll is making. I'd rather just keep Marte as the second utility guy on the infield if anything. If you could get him for $2M or less maybe, but even then I'm not sold on the idea...

Hermie13 wrote:yeah, he'll likely want at least what Carroll is making. I'd rather just keep Marte as the second utility guy on the infield if anything. If you could get him for $2M or less maybe, but even then I'm not sold on the idea...

Utility infield guys need to be able to play more than one position. I can't think of a guy more poorly suited to a utility role than Marte.

Is Blake not a utilty guy since he can only play corner spots? Almost any MLer can play LF (and if you can play LF, you can play RF). It's practically as easy as 1B (Tribe has played Branyan, Sexson, and Broussard in LF for example). I view Marte as a decent utility guy. Plays solid D and hit lefties 'ok' last year, plus hit better the last month+. Obviously Carroll is a MUCH better option.....which is why I said keep Marte as the 'second' utility option.

Blake hadn't either til we decided to move him to RF one year. I could see Marte being able to learn LF or 2B pretty easily. Again, no ones ideal choice. I'd just rather keep him on the bench for $400-430K than sign Hairston for $1.5-2M, since we have Carroll for $2.5M already. If Carroll wasn't here, I'd be all for Hairston....

Hermie13 wrote:Blake hadn't either til we decided to move him to RF one year. I could see Marte being able to learn LF or 2B pretty easily. Again, no ones ideal choice. I'd just rather keep him on the bench for $400-430K than sign Hairston for $1.5-2M, since we have Carroll for $2.5M already. If Carroll wasn't here, I'd be all for Hairston....

really 2B? I dont see that maybe OF but not sure about that one either

Well when I orignally was reading this thread, I was thinking of Hairston being one of the starting infielders, not a utility guy. I don't support this idea, unless it is a incentive laden deal, because Hairston did have a remarkable season last year, and the rest of his career before that was way below last year.

As for Marte playing 2B, I am not so sure about that, he has never played outside of 3B, LF was tried on him last year in ST, and the Indians quickly threw that out the window. I will take Casey Blake at 2B before Andy Marte anyday.

Marte played 1B last year in a ML game...so he can play outside of 3B. And when did they try him in LF last spring? Never saw or heard that (though they may have). They did move him to 1B where he played a decent amount in the spring.

Marte has good feet over at 3B and ok range for the position. Wouldn't be an ideal 2B, but could handle it as well (defensively at least) as a guy like Baerga or more recently Belliard (who actually would be a nice fit for this team this year....but that's for another thread, lol).